Projecting the AP Top 25 after Week 8

Week 8 was seen as being a letdown after a loaded Week 7, but we’re going to some shakeups in the new Associated Press Top 25.

The day’s biggest upset, Illinois knocking off No. 6 Wisconsin, allows two top-10 teams to move up. Penn State should take Wisconsin’s spot after the Nittany Lions knocked off No. 16 Michigan.

Florida has a solid case to go from No. 9 to No. 7. The Gators covered the point spread on the road at South Carolina and now have two more wins (7) than No. 8 Notre Dame (5), which was off on Saturday. Despite the officiating controversy in Columbia, AP voters will likely see it better fit to move up UF to No. 7 instead of ND.

Speaking of upsets, nice knowing you, Mizzou. The Tigers are sure to get bounced from the rankings after falling to Vanderbilt.

Washington entered Saturday ranked No. 25. The Huskies lost by only four to No. 12 Oregon, but it’s loss No. 3 for Washington and there are teams with fewer losses (Wake Forest, Memphis, Iowa State) which have a stronger case for being ranked.

Here’s how we project the new AP Top 25 after Week 8:

Alabama (6-0) def. Tennessee, 35-13

LSU (7-0) def. Mississippi State, 36-13

Clemson (7-0) def. Louisville, 45-10

Ohio State (7-0) def. Northwestern, 52-3

Oklahoma (7-0) def. West Virginia, 52-14

Penn State (7-0) def. No. 16 Michigan, 28-21

Florida (7-1) def. South Carolina, 38-27

Notre Dame (5-1, off Week 8)

Georgia (6-1) def. Kentucky, 21-0

Auburn (6-1) def. Arkansas, 51-10

Oregon (6-1) def. No. 25 Washington, 35-31

Utah (6-1) def. No. 17 Arizona State, 21-3

Wisconsin (6-1) lost to Illinois, 24-23

Baylor (7-0) def. Oklahoma State, 45-27

SMU (7-0) def. Temple, 45-21

Minnesota (7-0) def. Rutgers, 42-7

Texas (5-2) def. Kansas, 50-48

Bosie State lost to BYU 28-25

App State (6-0) def. UL Monroe, 52-7

Cincinnati (6-1) def. Tulsa, 24-13

Michigan (5-2) lost to No. 7 Penn State, 28-21

Iowa (5-2) def. Purdue, 26-20

Arizona State (5-2) lost to No. 13 Utah, 21-3

Wake Forest (6-1) def. FSU, 22-20

Memphis (6-1) def. Tulane, 47-17

Projected to drop out of the AP Top 25: No. 22 Missouri (5-2) lost to Vanderbilt, 21-14; No. 25 Washington (5-3) lost to No. 12 Oregon, 35-31

There is a reason why Kelly Bryant lost his job to Lawrence and it showed yesterday. Vandy is worse than an ACC defense and Bryant looked confused and uneasy all game. I don’t remember seeing a QB run around in circles like that in a very long time. Mason took over the defense and it showed.